Movies

Misery

BBG News

Over time, many remarkable adaptations of novels have sparked debate due to the alterations they’ve introduced into the original works, like Stephen King’s disapproval of Stanley Kubrick’s take on “The Shining.” Similarly, the 1990 Rob Reiner adaptation of a certain book, which bagged an Oscar and featured one of the actress’s most memorable performances, has stirred controversy. The actress who portrayed Annie Wilkes, everyone’s favorite fanatic admirer in this film, had some reservations regarding the changes made to the movie compared to the novel’s original version.

In the movie, the film’s intense and harrowing nature is maintained, but one particular scene deviates from Stephen King’s novel. The infamous “hobbling” scene, where Bates’ Wilkes uses a sledgehammer to injure Paul Sheldon’s (James Caan) feet in the movie, is undeniably challenging for viewers. However, in the book, Wilkes amputates Sheldon’s feet with an ax and then cauterizes the stumps in a chilling manner. Although such graphic violence is common in modern entertainment, 35 years ago, director Reiner chose to modify this scene, finding it too extreme for audiences at that time.

At the TCM Classic Film Festival (as reported by IndieWire), Bates shared her initial feelings upon learning that some graphic scenes from King’s books wouldn’t make it into the movie. She confided that this decision left her feeling quite disheartened. Addressing Reiner, who was also present, she expressed: “I felt really down about it.

“I was crushed that you took that out. I didn’t agree with that at all.”

‘Misery’ Was a “Prison” Movie, Not a Horror Movie

Stephen King is not just known for creating terrifying otherworldly creatures and supernatural scares, but also for telling compelling human stories. Many of his best movie adaptations have steered clear of supernatural horrors, instead focusing on the horrors that exist within our world or in the depths of the human psyche. One such example is “The Shawshank Redemption“, a highly acclaimed prison drama often ranked among the greatest films ever made. Interestingly, some have pointed out that “Misery” can also be considered a “prison” movie. Director Rob Reiner explained that actor Warren Beatty was initially cast to play Paul Sheldon, and his input before leaving the project significantly influenced the storyline. As Reiner put it:

He explained, “This isn’t a horror film or a thriller. It’s a prison movie. The protagonist is incarcerated, and much like us, he needs to use his wit to find a way out of the penitentiary.

After meticulously revising William Goldman’s script to align with Beatty’s ideas for the film, the actor expressed uncertainty, saying “I’m not sure if I want to proceed with it.” This doubt eventually paved the way for James Caan to join the project. The rest, as we know, became history. However, Bates admitted that she had no idea the movie would be such a success and even anticipated it could be her final film. She expressed, “I never expected this film to be so well-received, and I thought it might be my last.

“I thought it was the end of my career. I was horrified.”

As a film enthusiast, it seems that Bates’ portrayal of Annie Wilkes was more about becoming the character than merely acting. When asked which role I resonate with the most, Annie Wilkes certainly finds a spot near the top of my list.

In a recent conversation, I was asked, “Which character do you identify with most?” To which I responded, “Annie Wilkes.” I have periods of intense excitement, experience low moods, and at times become overly fixated on exceptionally talented individuals.

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2025-04-29 14:33

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